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Books > Humanities > Archaeology > General
For many years, one of my favorite classroom devices in historical
archaeology was to ask the students to imagine that they had to
make the choice between saving-from some unnamed calamity-all
master's theses or all doctoral disser tations in anthropology, but
not both. Like good students, they usually looked to their Ph.D.
holding professor and chose the dissertations. Much to their
surprise, Iwouldrespondthatthetheseswould win withouteventakingtime
to ponderthe issue. The issue is clearly one of often naive and
rarely eloquent theses full of good primary data versus sometimes
more sophisticated and better written works full of irrelevant
theory and meaningless statistics. Perhaps this is an overstate
ment of the situation, but it is not too far offthe mark. The
University Microfilms International efforts to make the titles of
disser tations in North America and the English speaking portions
of Europe available through Dissertation Abstracts is commendable.
With only one minor exception, dissertations in historical and
underwater archaeology in the United States are to be found listed
in Dissertation Abstracts and thus are available for purchase."
The study of forensic evidence using archaeology is a new
discipline which has rapidly gained importance, not only in
archaeological studies but also in the investigation of real
crimes. Archaeological evidence is increasingly presented in
criminal cases and has helped to secure a number of convictions.
Studies in Crime surveys methods of searching for and locating
buried remains, their practical recovery, the decay of human and
associated death scene materials, the analysis and identification
of human remains including the use of DNA, and dating the time of
death. The book contains essential information for forensic
scientists, archaeologists, police officers, police surgeons,
pathologists and lawyers. Studies in Crime will also be of interest
to members of the public interested in the investigation of death
by unnatural causes, both ancient and modern.
This unique book offers a theoretical framework for historical
archaeology that explicitly relies on network theory. Charles E.
Orser, Jr., demonstrates the need to examine the impact of
colonialism, Eurocentrism, capitalism, and modernity on all
archaeological sites inhabited after 1492 and shows how these
large-scale forces create a link among all the sites. Orser
investigates the connections between a seventeenth-century runaway
slave kingdom in Palmares, Brazil and an early nineteenth-century
peasant village in central Ireland. Studying artifacts, landscapes,
and social inequalities in these two vastly different cultures, the
author explores how the archaeology of fugitive Brazilian slaves
and poor Irish farmers illustrates his theoretical concepts. His
research underscores how network theory is largely unknown in
historical archaeology and how few historical archaeologists apply
a global perspective in their studies. A Historical Archaeology of
the Modern World features data and illustrations from two
previously unknown sites and includes such intriguing findings as
the provenance of ancient Brazilian smoking pipes that will be new
to historical archaeologists.
Focusing on the city of Armidale during the period 1830 to 1930,
this book investigates the relationship between the development of
capitalism in a particular region (New England, Australia) and the
expression of ideology within architectural style. The author
analyzes how style encodes meaning and how it relates to the social
contexts and relationships within capitalism, which in turn are
related to the construction of ideology over time.
Regional approaches to the study of prehistoric exchange have
generated much new knowledge about intergroup and regional
interaction. The American South west and Mesoamerica: Systems of
Prehistoric Exchange is the first of two volumes that seek to
provide current information regarding regional exchange on a conti
nental basis. From a theoretical perspective, these volumes provide
important data for the comparative analysis of regional systems
relative to sociopolitical organization from simple
hunter-gatherers to those of complex sociopolitical entities like
the state. Although individual regional exchange systems are unique
for each region and time period, general patterns emerge relative
to sOciopolitical organization. Of significant interest to us are
the dynamic processes of change, stability, rate of growth, and
collapse of regional exchange systems relative to sociopolitical
complexity. These volumes provide basic data to further our under
standing of prehistoric exchange systems. The volume presents our
current state of knowledge about regional exchange systems in the
American Southwest and Mesoamerica. Each chapter synthesizes the
research findings of a number of other researchers in order to
provide a synchronic view of regional interaction for a specific
chronological period. A diachronic view is also prOvided for
regional interaction in the context of the developments in regional
SOciopolitical organization. Most authors go beyond description by
proposing alternative models within which to understand regional
interaction. The book is organized by geographical and
chronological divisions to pro vide units of the broader mosaic of
prehistoric exchange systems."
This volume is based on the Field Museum of Natural History Spring
System atics Symposium held in Chicago on May 11, 1991. The
financial support of Ray and Jean Auel and of the Field Museum is
gratefully acknowledged. When we teach or write, we present only
those elements that support our arguments. We avoid all weak points
of our debate and all the uncer tainties of our models. Thus, we
offer hypotheses as facts. Multiauthored books like ours, which
simultaneously advocate and question diverse views, avoid the
pitfalls and lessen the impact of indoctrination. In this volume we
analyze the anthropological and biological disagreements and the
positions taken on the origins of modern humans, point out
difficultieswith the inter pretations, and suggest that the concept
of the human origin can be explained only when we first attempt to
define Homo sapiens sapiens. One of the major controversies in
physical anthropology concerns the geographic origin of
anatomically modern humans. It is undisputed, due to the extensive
research of the Leakeys and their colleagues, that the family
Hominidae originated in Africa, but the geographic origin of Homo
sapiens sapiens is less concretely accepted. Two schools of thought
existon this topic."
Election 2000 and September 11th. This is a chronicle of the
life-changing events that covered the period October 2000 through
October 2001. A time when a foreign army of religious fanatics
declared war against our economy, our military, our sovereignty,
and our culture. A war, as President Bush has said, between the
forces of good and evil! And it marked the moment America came of
age, and truly changed forever!
This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview on the most
pressing issues in the conservation and management of
archaeological, architectural, and urban landscapes.
Multidisciplinary research is presented on a wide range of built
heritage sites, from archaeological ruins and historic centers
through to twentieth century and industrial architectural heritage.
The role of ICT and new technologies, including those used for
digital archiving, surveying, modeling, and monitoring, is
extensively discussed, in recognition of their importance for
professionals working in the field. Detailed attention is also paid
to materials and treatments employed in preventive conservation and
management. With contributions from leading experts, including
university researchers, professionals, and policy makers, the book
will be invaluable for all who seek to understand, and solve, the
challenges face d in the protection and enhancement of the built
heritage.
American things, American material culture, and American
archaeology are the themes of this book. The authors use goods used
or made in America to illuminate issues such as tenancy, racism,
sexism, and regional bias. Contributors utilize data about everyday
objects - from tin cans and bottles to namebrand items, from fish
bones to machinery - to analyze the way American capitalism works.
Their cogent analyses take us literally from broken dishes to the
international economy. Especially notable chapters examine how an
archaeologist formulates questions about exploitation under
capitalism, and how the study of artifacts reveals African-American
middle class culture and its response to racism.
Since its very beginning, archaeology has in many senses always
related to a much wider constituency than just archaeologists. This
relationship between archaeology and the public has often been
overlooked and constantly changes. Public archaeology, as a field
of research and practice, has been developing since the 1970s in
English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States,
Britain, and Australia, and is today beginning to spread to other
parts of the world. Global expansion of public archaeology comes
with the recognition of the need for a careful understanding of
local contexts, particularly the culture and socio-political
climate.
This volume critically examines the current theories and
practices of public archaeology through relevant case studies from
different regions throughout the world, including: Japan, China,
South Korea, New Caledonia, South Africa, Senegal, Jordon, Italy,
Peru, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.
These case studies are examined from a wide variety of theoretical
contexts, to provide a thorough and comprehensive guide to the
state of public archaeology today, as well as implications for its
future.
As the theory and practice of public archaeology continues to
change and grow, archaeology s relationship with the broader
community needs to be critically and openly examined. The
contributions in this wide-ranging work are a key source of
information for anyone practicing or studying archaeology in a
public context.
"
This volume combines 10 years of accomplished research at the
Pilauco site. The studies are focused on a variety of scientific
areas including geological, sedimentological, geomorphological and
paleobotanical topics, as well as paleontology of vertebrata and
invertebrata, micropaleontology, archaeology, biochemistry,
taxonomy, taphonomy, astrophysics and the development of some
particular touristic aspects. In 18 chapters a variety of authors
describe the excavation and investigation of this unique location.
The book presents Pilauco as an example for the natural laboratory
which can be found in South America, a testing ground for many of
the hypotheses regarding migrations of animals and humans. In this
context the study of topics, such as the paleozoography, the role
of megafauna species for the architecture of the forests, the
animal extinctions or the early human settlements, is extremely
important on a global scale. The Pilauco site features
paleontological and archaeological evidences and is contemporaneous
with the Monte Verde site (~ 15,000 cal. yr AP). It is located 100
km north from Monte Verde and lies within the Intermediate
Depression in northwestern Chilean Patagonia. It was discovered by
chance in 1986 and has been excavated and investigated since 2007.
Incorporating both archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence,
this volume reexamines the role played by native peoples in
structuring interaction with Europeans. The more complete
historical picture presentedwill be of interest to scholars and
students of archaeology, anthropology, and history.
Examines the ethical dilemma of whether, and how, archaeologists
and other experts should work with the military to protect cultural
property in times of conflict. The world reacted with horror to the
images of the looting of the National Museum in Iraq in 2003 -
closely followed by other museums and then, largely unchecked, or
archaeological sites across the country. This outcome had been
predicted by many archaeologists, with some offering to work
directly with the military to identify museums and sites to be
avoided and protected. However, this work has since been heavily
criticised by others working in the field,who claim that such
collaboration lended a legitimacy to the invasion. It has therefore
served to focus on the broader issue of whether archaeologists and
other cultural heritage experts should ever work with the
military,and, if so, under what guidelines and strictures. The
essays in this book, drawn from a series of international
conferences and seminars on the debate, provide an historical
background to the ethical issues facing cultural heritage experts,
and place them in a wider context. How do medical and religious
experts justify their close working relationships with the
military? Is all contact with those engaged in conflict wrong? Does
working with the military really constitute tacit agreement with
military and political goals, or can it be seen as contributing to
the winning of a peace rather than success in war? Are guidelines
required to help define roles and responsibilities? And can
conflict situations be seen as simply an extension of protecting
cultural property on military training bases? The book opens and
addresses these and other questions as matters of crucial debate.
Contributors: Peter Stone, Margaret M. Miles, Fritz Allhoff, Andrew
Chandler, Oliver Urquhart Irvine, Barney White-Spunner, Rene
Teijgeler, Katharyn Hanson, Martin Brown, Laurie Rush, Francis
Scardera, Caleb Adebayo Folorunso, Derek Suchard, Joanne Farchakh
Bajjaly, John Curtis, Jon Price, Mike Rowlands, Iain Shearer
The First African Baptists Church (FABC) remains were accidentally
discovered and eventually excavated during the 1980s in
Philadelphia. The history and artifacts of the church and cemetery,
active from 1823 to 1850, provide a glimpse into the life of the
poorest segment of Philadelphia society. Who these people were and
the conditions of their lives is the focus of this book. Using
census data, skeletal remains, and church documents, Dr.
Rankin-Hill recreates the life of this community and compares their
conditions to that of other Afro-Americans living in the United
States.
Johann Herolt OP ( 1390-1468), a Dominican friar of N rnberg, was
the most prolific sermonist of fifteenth century Europe, producing
a huge and widely used library of sermon materials under the
penname 'Discipulus'. For nearly forty years, Johann Herolt was
teacher, preacher, confessor, administrator, and advocate of the
sisters of St Katharine's, the Dominican sister house. While he was
vicar of St Katharine's in 1436, he preached to the sisters a
series of Advent, Christmas, and New Year sermons, using the
imagery of an enclosed garden in which the rose tree of eternal
wisdom grows - a garden surrounded by the wall of the fear of God,
and entered by the strait gate of diligence. His heartfelt
discourse was about the monastic virtues of humility, patience, and
obedience. The sermons were never published. The manuscript is a
partial reconstruction from verbatim notes of a series of Advent,
Christmas and New Year sermons.
The excavation of Gobekli Tepe has revealed the hitherto unknown
religion of the Neolithic Revolution." This book offers an
archaeological starter basis for interpreting that ancient
religion. Other fresh perspectives affect our understanding of
civilization, human sacrifice, cannibalism, warfare, and
imperialism. Fresh contextual perspectives are presented on ancient
Egypt and Greece, on Abraham, the Scapegoat question, as well as on
the teaching strategies of Confucius in China-all these are
remotely linked to Gobekli Tepe. The author is a former student of
Mircea Eliade (University of Chicago) and the family resemblance in
his orientation shows. His earlier innovations in the History of
Religions field include: (1) a historical interpretation of Navajo
hunter mythology; (2) recording the nine-night Navajo Coyoteway
Ceremonial in 1974, which had been declared extinct in 1910; (3)
identification of the Serpent as primary deity of ancient Middle
American Civilization, thereby rejecting the primacy of the Jaguar
totem; (4) identifying Neo-Platonism as a bridge leading from
ancient Egyptian theology at Heliopolis to orthodox Christian
theology.
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